But the Polly Ann flew onward, and in a few seconds the cause of the bump was ascertained when, over the lee rail, was seen an immense “right� whale. The creature spouted in indignation as the schooner, her rail lined with men, shot by. The water fell in a shower on the decks, drenching them.
“That’s the whale’s way of getting even fer dat uppercut we handed him,� grinned Noddy comprehendingly.
The next day the gale had decreased in violence and the weather cleared. Raynor, on his way from the galley with the mid-day meal, looked up to windward and suddenly saw something that made his heart bound.
It was another schooner, also flying north under a press of sail. Like a flash an idea came to him. In a stern locker, already bent to the hoisting halyards, was the schooner’s ensign,—one of many, for at different times it suited Terror Carson to belong to different nations. This flag was a United States ensign. Raynor’s daring plan was to reverse the flag in the universal language of distress and summon aid from the other schooner.
He looked at the man at the wheel. The fellow was dozing apparently. Raynor set down the tin dishes he was carrying aft and cautiously approached the flag locker.
It was the work of only a moment to reverse the ensign.
“Now I’ll hoist it and then hide some place till that other craft sends a boat,� thought Raynor.
With infinite caution he began to hoist the reversed flag. It fluttered out bravely in the brisk wind.
Raynor’s heart beat high.
“Jove, I believe it will be successful,� he exclaimed to himself.